“Pure caring concealed in vinegar,” …

“Pure caring concealed in vinegar,” jazz great Wynton Marsalis said at the memorial of the ways of Stern, who he got to know through the board of Lincoln Center. Stern, who died Jan. 1 at 77, shepherded the explosive growth of the NBA from an also-ran entity whose Finals were tape-delayed to a global colossus. He was feted Tuesday at a packed Radio City Music Hall memorial. Speakers noted he had a deserved reputation for sharp elbows, demanding ways and a “my way or the highway” attitude.